Slinger, WI – Lots of parents from Washington County poured into the Kohl Center in Madison, WI, over the weekend to watch their wrestlers take part in the WIAA State Tournament. Some of the competitors featured the new WIAA D2 138-pound state champ Ethan Immel of Kewaskum, Ethan Bast of West Bend West, Eli Rabideau of Germantown, Ayden Grulke of Hartford Union, Bryston Scoles of Kewaskum, and Brianna Gehring of Slinger who finished in 5th place as a freshman in the 152-pound weight class.
Her parents were extremely proud, and mom Maria Gehring submitted the article below.
It’s incredibly rewarding, and my husband and I couldn’t be happier! As parents, we’re always proud when our children pour their heart into something, but it’s even more special when you witness their hard work pay off.
Our house is always buzzing with talk about sports, as our four kids constantly compete in various sports and with each other. Brianna is determined not to let older brother Landon be the only kid in the house who is a state champ.
This past fall, Landon helped the Slinger Owls secure the WIAA Division 2 State Championship for football.
The kids have always been proud of their roots and strive to uphold the Gehring name. Their father, JJ, made his mark during his time at Slinger High School and was honored with a spot in the inaugural class of the school’s Hall of Fame.
Brianna often points out his plaque in the hallway to her friends. That Gehring pride is definitely one of the many things that drives our children toward greatness.
When Brianna was in elementary school, she would watch her older brother and cousins wrestle and often asked to join. At the time, we said no, because girls weren’t typically involved in wrestling. For three years, we turned her down.
But by her 6th-grade year, we saw the sport evolving, with more and more girls starting to participate.
We decided to let her give it a try, and she’s continued to amaze us each year with her determination and passion. She never shied away from setbacks or from wrestling against boys. Her perseverance earned her a spot on the podium at youth state every year during middle school.
Now, as a freshman, reaching the Kohl Center was a goal, and placing there was a dream come true. She’s incredibly driven and hungry for success in this sport.
It hasn’t always been easy—there have been growing pains along the way, like the challenge of not having enough girls in her weight class locally—but she’s never been deterred.
We’ve been especially impressed with her mental growth as an athlete. Wrestling is unique because, ultimately, it’s you on that mat. The ability to stay focused, calm under pressure, and maintain a positive mindset is just as critical as physical conditioning.
In wrestling, you learn how to overcome mental barriers, rebound from setbacks, and believe in yourself, even when the odds are against you. These are the skills Brianna has been working on, and they will continue to be an ongoing goal for her.
Brianna currently maintains a 3.8 GPA while being a multi-sport athlete. When asked about her favorite classes, she said, “Slinger Strength because it helps keep me fit and is a great way to clear my head, and Metals Tech because I’m a hands-on learner and love seeing instant results from my work.” This past fall, she played tennis for Slinger High School and plans to compete in Track and Field this spring.
Wrestling, however, is by far her favorite sport. When asked why, she said, “The adrenaline during a match is the best part. Seeing the people behind you cheer for you no matter what. I keep going because it’s part of my family history and part of my life now. And I want to see how long I can do it.”
Brianna also hoped to see the girls’ wrestling program grow at Slinger. “I’d love to be part of the first-ever girls’ wrestling team here,” she said. “I think recruiting 6-8 would be a great start, and before I graduate, I’d love to see 4-5 girls per grade level.”
The future looks incredibly bright for Brianna. She will be working hard, not just to perfect her craft, but also to help grow the sport she loves.
We’re beyond excited to cheer her on every step of the way. We’ll always be in her corner, and we feel blessed to have such a supportive community rallying behind her—not just for Brianna, but for the future of girls’ wrestling as a whole.
-Maria Gehring
March 1, 2025 – Slinger, WI – Today Brianna Gehring, a freshman from Slinger High School, took 5th at WIAA state for the 152-pound weight class. She is the first girl from Slinger to place at the state tournament.
Gehring comes from a strong wrestling family and her brother Landon Gehring, a senior at Slinger, was a key player for this year’s WIAA D2 State Championships football team.
Gehring is not the first girl through the Slinger High School wrestling program. Lauren Osborn, class of 2024, is currently part of the West Point Women’s Club.
In the 23/24 season, Osborn ran the first all-girls wrestling camp with 18 girls in attendance for Slinger.
Link above for Lauren’s girls camp